Local recruits at peace with their choices

Five area players who will participate in national signing day Wednesday reflect on how the recruiting process went for them, the factors that weighed into their colleges of choice, and what they’ll be looking forward to in their new environments.

From left to right: Marcus Johnson (Clear Springs), Paul Boyette Jr. (Humble) and Kennedy Estelle (Dawson) show their love for the Longhorns. (Michael Paulsen/Chronicle)

Kennedy Estelle, Dawson OT (Texas)

Why was Texas the right school for you?

A: Texas was the right school for me because of the family and the vibe that I get when I’m around all the players and the coaches. When I went down there for my June camp visit, we went to go work out. It was just the bond that I had with all the players that let me know that was the place for me.

All my family is basically from Texas, so they can come and watch me play. Mack Brown treats me like I’m his son. He treats me like family, so I thought that was the right place for me.

How important was that family vibe and making sure you were comfortable when you were there?

A: It’s really a big factor in the recruiting process because you don’t want to go somewhere where you’re not going to feel comfortable and you’re just going to be there to play football. You want to go somewhere where you can have fun but still have somebody who’s going to watch over you and be serious at the same time.

In today’s recruiting, once you commit it still doesn’t end. How was the entire recruiting process?

A: Once people found out I committed to Texas, I got a lot of phone calls, and (yet) some coaches started dying down on trying to recruit me and stuff. But it’s always going to be there. Coaches still call me and still try to come to the school and talk to me, but I’m 100 (percent) on Texas, so it’s really not a point.

Another part of recruiting now is Twitter and Facebook. Have you gone on there and met some of your future teammates?

A: Oh yeah, I met a few people on Facebook. I know Cedric Benson added me on there.
I have some of the recruits that are coming in my class on Twitter or Facebook, so the social network helped a lot.

You missed two games with a knee injury. How difficult was it to miss time during your senior season?

A: It was tough trying to come back and get back in shape, stuff like that. It was hard.

Humble’s defensive line, with you, Texas pledge Paul Boyette Jr. and Kyndhal Hill, was supposed to be one of the best in the Houston area in 2011, but things never came together. What happened? How disappointed were you?

A: It was tough because we had a whole bunch of missing talent. One of our D-ends, Kyndhal Hill, went and played basketball (only), got a scholarship there (with Weber State), and one of our other D-ends went to Baytown, and they were a big part of the D-line last year.

You had quite a few offers to consider from schools like Miami, Arkansas, Arizona, Missouri and West Virginia. Some guys stress out in that situation, and some guys enjoy it. What was the experience like for you?

A: It was just fun. It was fun getting recruited.

What made you decide to go with Baylor?

A: The biggest factors were staying close to home and going where I know I can get on the field.

How much did you love watching quarterback Robert Griffin III play at Baylor last season?

A: It was amazing. I was so amazed when he got the Heisman. I knew he was going to get it, but it was amazing to see.

Wish he was coming back for another year?

A: Everybody was wishing he would come back.

The Big 12 is about to get some more big-time players. From left to right back row: Cody Small (Cy Woods), Quan West (Willis), Paul Lewis (North Shore), Chance Allen (Elkins), Emmanuel Ogbah (Bush) and Mitchell Myers (The Woodlands). Front row left to right: Blake Webb (The Woodlands) and Garrett Hope (The Woodlands). (Michael Paulsen/Chronicle)

Garrett Hope, The Woodlands LB (West Virginia)

Why was West Virginia the right school for you?

A: I’ve always wanted to be in the Big 12, and they’re going to be in the Big 12 next year.
The coaches there — they just got a new coach. Coach (Mike) Smith from the New York Jets — he’s going to be my linebacker coach. And (Joe) DeForest from Oklahoma State just moved there as a defensive coordinator, and that really pumped me up and got me going on that.

A few months ago, West Virginia wasn’t in the Big 12. How much did you follow all the conference movement, and how did that play into your decision?

A: I didn’t really have an offer until I got up there, but I was definitely looking into West Virginia. I saw it as a school that was going to offer me.

I’ve been following it the whole time. Me and my dad, we talk every night about it.

How are you going to be fitting in there and helping them out?

A: They just moved their defense to a 3-4 defense from a 3-3-stack. They told me that I would be playing outside linebacker and that I’m about three or four on the depth chart right now.

Hopefully, I can build myself up. They haven’t said a word about redshirting or anything like that, so I’m pretty happy.

Facebook and Twitter have helped change some of recruiting, so has it helped you meet other recruits?

A: I have not. I’ve definitely looked them up, and I will be adding them on Facebook and Twitter. I have talked to Ford Childress (Kinkaid).

I’m not huge on Twitter — I like to keep my opinions to myself most of the time — but whenever it comes to that and I need to get to know my teammates before I get up there and stuff like that, I’m going to have to do that.